Project introduction
This article is a pattern overview of the First Day of Summer butterfly flip flop project, not a full step by step tutorial. For the complete row by row instructions, head to the original designer’s post linked below. The project began as a summer kickoff idea on the designer’s blog, inspired by childhood summers in Texas spent chasing butterflies and churning homemade peach ice cream.
Backyard tea parties with lemonade, homemade popsicles, and tuna fish sandwiches round out the nostalgic mood behind the design. If that easygoing summer feeling sounds like your kind of project, the overview below covers what you need and how the piece comes together.
Butterfly Flip Flops
Butterflies have always been special to the designer, so summer began with this butterfly flip flop crochet pattern. The idea is simple: a small crocheted butterfly motif dresses up a pair of plain plastic flip flops. The designer used I Love This Cotton yarn from Hobby Lobby and notes that any yarn will do. Decorating one pair takes less than an ounce of yarn, and the make is quick enough to finish several pairs in a single evening.
The supply list is delightfully short, which makes this an easy stash buster for cotton leftovers. You will find the full row by row directions in the Original designer’s pattern and instructions, and the designer also shared YouTube instructions for anyone who prefers to watch the steps.
- I Love This Cotton yarn, 1/2 oz (any yarn works, according to the designer)
- Crochet hook, size H
- Plastic flip flops
Construction stays simple. The strap cover begins with single crochet worked around both sides of the flip flop strap, then a couple of half double crochet rows shape the band. Next comes a row of V-stitches, each one a double crochet, chain 1, and double crochet worked into the same stitch, and the butterfly motif is worked into the center V-stitch before the piece is fastened off and the ends are woven in.
This overview covers the shape of the project only. For stitch by stitch directions, the special stitch details, and the video demonstration, use the original designer’s pattern and the YouTube instructions linked above. Each link takes you straight to the source material, so you can follow along at your own pace.
